Cheese. For most people, it's a word that brings happiness and a sense of joy. But for those of us who are lactose intolerant, that word strikes fear into the pits of our souls. Well...more like our stomachs, but you get the idea. It's not easy being dairy-free, so here are some struggles that we go through on a daily basis.
1. People don't take your lactose intolerance seriously.
We don't just "get a stomach ache" and then are completely fine. It's more like severe stomach pains that feel as though you're being stabbed in the stomach continuously for a couple hours. ...And then you have to go to the bathroom.
2. You have to question if everything has dairy because nothing is safe.
From bread to pancakes to salad dressing, chances are you know that whatever you're about to eat probably contains dairy. So for all you non-lactose intolerant people out there, please stop questioning us as to why we're taking lactaids with our meal, because really it's for everyone's benefit that we're taking our pills.
3. When you go out to eat with friends, and they order mozzarella sticks/spinach artichoke dip as the appetizers.
So you just have to sit there and watch everyone else eat.
4. Having to explain to people that everyone's lactose intolerance is different.
Yes, every person's lactose intolerance is different! So just because your friend can eat a cheeseburger and be fine doesn't mean that the rest of us can.
5. Most of the time, you can only get your coffee from Dunkin because they are the only ones who have almond milk.
Thanks for always having our back, Dunkin.
6. Going to a meeting that promised dinner, only to have it be pizza.
Pizza is convenient, we get it. But couldn't there at least be one dairy-free option?
7. ...And you don't want to be rude, so you try to eat the pizza anyway.
Even if you rip off most of the cheese, there's still no guarantee everything will be fine.
8. Being lactose-intolerant is expensive.
From almond milk, to any other dairy-free product...let me tell you it is not cheap being lactose intolerant. Those lactaid pills you see us taking? Yeah, those usually cost about $10 a box.
9. For some reason, people love offering you cheese as a joke.
Most of the time it's funny, but sometimes it just gets old. Oh look, someone's offering me milk as a joke. Again. Hahaha. Haha. Ha. Also, just be aware that lactose intolerance can develop as you get older...so keep laughing, because you could be next. No one is safe.
10. When you're home, that's when you can indulge in stuff you normally can't eat.
One of the few places where it's OK to eat pizza and drink milkshakes. Of course you immediately regret it after, but at least you're in the comfort of your own home.
11. There are some things that you just can't eat, no matter how many lactaids you take.
For me, ice-cream and mac & cheese are a few of those things.
12. Speaking of ice cream, chances are that this was some of the best news you've heard in a while:
Thank you, Ben & Jerry's, for answering every lactose-intolerant's prayer.
13. Meeting someone who is also lactose intolerant:
You get each other's struggles, and always have lactaids if the other person forgets their own.
